The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-25
The C., c. G. & c. R. R.
THE INAN1MATE BODY BEGINS TO EMIT
AN UNPLEASANT oD0R.
The Citizens Of Edgeficld make Seri-
Gus Charges against the Road, and
in the Courts Seek Redress for their
Grievances The TO VIII Council
Tackles This End Of the Road,
Etluef1eltI Chronicle.

Edgefeld Chronicle.
The Resolution OF our Town Council, pub
lished in3anOther column, is startling. IT Is
also brave, wise, and Judlcatlve OF both con
Sclentious public spirit and much manly
grit, It pronounces null and void the rclin-
auishment Of the mortgage made by our
Town Council of 1891 to the Carolina, Gambler
land Gap & Chicago Railroad Company.
We will run over the past history Of this
the Edgetield Branch Railroad was first char
tered, our Town Council was authorized to
subscribe S2O0Oa to its capital stock. The
Council, under 1ntendant D. r, Durso. qia
subscribe $4,000, ard subsequently under In
tendant X. &. Bonham. $1,000 more, making
$4,000 in all and took mortgage rom the
road to secure them. Then In 1884, some time
after our Branch Road had been consolidated
with the Carolina, Cumberland Gap and Chi
cago, Gov. Hagood. President of the consoli-
dation, appeared before our Council and made
q statement to the effect that Schoflcld, who
was then raising modcy to build the great
Roud-and he has been raising It ever since
was hampered by this mortgage. and that he
belle we'd Schofeld could raise the said money
If our Council would relinquish SAID mort
gage, promising the Council that If they
would execute such relinquishment. the c. e,
&. & G. Company would issue to the Council
first mortgage bonds of the c. &: q. < G. TO
had. The Council, under the advice OF three
or four Of our most prominent and Intelligent
citizens, proceeded to release the mortgage,
for which, as Is we'll known, Lney nave never
received the pairing Of a nail. On the COLI
trary. trouble, loss and veXatlon ofspirit have
fallen upon our people, many of whom have
been paving taxes with our securities gone.
Lately, Moore and Sinott, owners OF Edge
field Branch Railroad bonds, have sued our
town in the u. $. Court for s., 50OO and no
answer having been put in. they have obtain
ed Judgment by default against the town on
their bonds.
And now, by It's late action, and through Its
attorney. Maj. Earnest Gary, our present
Council is endeavoring to have this Judgment
opened for the purpose of putting In de-
fense, and have brought suit to have the re-
linQuishment set aside and the mortgage
given by the Edgefed Branch Road to tho
Council, foreclosed, to indemnify the town Tor
having paid tax on these bonds since 1879 or
Of the $4,000, some $500 has been paid,
leaving between $1,000 and &.O00 Under the
circumstances, 1t is great pity that one cent
was ever paid.
This case will probably come before our
Circuit Court In August. And believe that
our town will regain possession Of the Edge
field Branch road. Then let the bond-holders
buy the road.bed and build the road from
here to Trenton. Yes. let us all throw up our
hats on this proposition that the bondhold-
ers buy the road and build 1t!
Or perhaps the Georgia & Carolina Midland,
which seems to be burdened with funds, would
buy as much of the bed as they might need,
paying enough therefor to indemnify our
haplesS town.